Fireplace screen support



F. J. MEYER 2,644,191

FIREPLACE SCREEN SUPPORT Filed July 17, 1951 2 $heets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FRED J. MEYER Bygw, 4 m? $444 ATTORNEY July 7, 1953 F.- J. ME YER ,1

FIREPLACE SCREEN SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1951 I INVENTOR FRED J. MEYER ATTORNEY Patented July 7, 1 953 UNITED STATES" PATENT ,OFFICE FIREPLACE SCREEN SUPPORT Fred J. Meyer, San Francisco, Calif. I Application July 17, lssnserial No. 237,123

Claims; (01. 1s-s7.'4)'

This invention relates to fireplace screens and in particular to improved means for supporting screens of the metal mesh type.

In the past, metal mesh type fireplace screens which are mounted on the fireplace structure have not been overly popular for several reasons, one reason being that nearly all fireplace openings are different, varying in size from 2'7 inches by 30 inches to 33 inches by 42 inches in over 95 percent of fireplaces. Ihis variation in size, in view of the fact that individual screens have been made to fit only one size, has meant that retail stores must take orders to be sent to factories for constructing custom made screens to fit a particular fireplace. This has resulted in a very unsatisfactory situation because of the expense of custom made screens and also because many mistakes are made in taking the measurements, rendering the screens unusable.

An additional difiiculty in the past with installed screens has been the necessity of defacing the front of the fireplace by drilling or tapping the stone or brick so that suitable brackets may be secured to the fireplace to retain the screen. This is a difiicult operation for a householder unskilled in the use of tools, and while a craftsman may make such an installation it obviously adds to the cost of the installed screen.

According to the present invention, a screen is provided which overcomes the foregoing difficulties and has many other further advantages. By the present invention, a screen is provided which is adjustable as to both heightand width, the adjustment being sufficient to adequately take care of the above-mentioned variations in dimensions. Furthermore, there is no need to drill, tap or nail any supporting bracket in or to the fireplace structure. the mounting brackets associated with the screen of the present invention involves merely turning threaded adjustment devices.

Therefore, a primary object of this invention is to provide improved fireplace screens.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved fireplace screens which are adjustable as to height and width to be adaptable to any size of fireplace.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fireplace screen which may be quickly installed by adjusting threaded devices to retain the screen in the fireplace by the action of friction or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a height adjustment for a fireplace screen which comprises a plurality of adjustment posi- The operation of installing.

tions is in brackets secured by clamping or the like to the inner surfaces of the fireplace side walls.

A further object of this invention is to provide fireplace screens which may be readily installed and removed without in any way defacing or tampering with the fireplace structure.

Further objects and the entire scope of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the appended claims. It will be understood that the following detailed description is made only for purposes of illustration and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The invention maybe best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a screen assembly embodying the present invention installed in a fireplace.

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the structure of a screen assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a top view partly in section of the screen according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. -5 shows an isometric view of a screen mounting bracket which forms a part of the present invention, and I Fig. 6 shows a detail view of structure for permitting overlapping of a metal mesh screen at the center of a fireplace.

Referring now to Fig. 1,'a complete screen assembly designated generally as In is shown in place in a masonry fireplace 12 which is surrounded by a conventional mantel structure it. There is provided a first panel I6 and a second panel I8 of conventional wire mesh hanging from a transverse wire mesh supporting rod 2B which in turn is supported in a transverse cover member 22. The unit comprising rod 26 and cover 22 is supported at either end thereof by means of hanger prongs 24, which receive the transverse rod 20 near their upper ends and which are supported in side bracket members 26 at their lower ends. The bracket members 26 are retained against the inner surfaces of the fireplace side walls under the action of an expansible turnbuckle device designated generally as 28. a

Referring next to Figs. 2-4 in addition to Fig. 1, it may be observed that the transverse rod 2% is attached to the cover 22 by means of right angle brackets 30 which may be attached to'the cover 22 by suitable rivets 32 or by any other convenient means, such as welding or brazing. It may be further noted that cover 22 is of inverted L-section, thus forming top and front cover members. The arms of brackets 30 which extend outwardly from cover 22 are provided with suitable apertures to receive the ends of rod 20 and the ends of this rod may be threaded to receive threaded retaining nuts 34. The rod 20 is located a sufiicient distance from both .of the two'sides of cover member 22 to permit a plurality of supporting rings 35 to be freely slidable along the rod. Each of the rings 36 also surrounds an upper section of one or the other of the wire 'mesh panels l6 and I8. Since the wire mesh is flexible, the panels I6 and [8 may be moved toeither sideof the fireplace to open the screen. If. desired, the outer upper corners of the mesh panel 6 and I8 may be secured by any suitable means to the brackets 30 or other suitable point on the cover 22 to prevent the outer edges of the screen from being unintentionally moved toward the-center of the fireplace. Hanger members, to be-"described below, will also serve the same purpose.

It will also be understood that-any conventional draw chain means may beprovided'for synchronizing the movement of the ;separate mesh panels l6 and 18. Suchdraw chains are sometimes preferred not only to synchronize the movement of the panels, but: also to providea means of opening the screen-without having to grasp the panels themselves,.since the panels may be quite hot.

Continuing to refer to Figs. 1-4;, the previously mentioned hanger prongs 24 maybe fabricated from round stock forged in onesection toprovide a flattened or rectangular section 38, andgthis portion may be drilled to form an aperture 402for receiving the transverse wire mesh supporting rod 20. The diameter of aperture 40 should be just slightly larger than-the diametenof rod 26 for reasons whichwill'become more fully appare ent below. The hanger prong 24 is further characterized by a downwardlyextending.portion 42 extending a considerable distance below the lower edge of cover member 22. The prong-is then-bent as at 44 in a direction toward the :insideof the fireplace. Theremainingportionotthe prong is designated 46 and extends in a; downwardly ,sloping direction and terminates, ,inac-somewhat rounded or pointedend-48'. At the upperend of each hanger prong 24,:thereis also provided a cross-piece 50 having upwardly extending. ends 52. As best observed in Figs. Zand i, the-extremities of theupturned ends 52 are so positionedias to just engage the undersurface of the;horizontal side of cover member 22. By this arrangement, it has been found that the hanger prongs 24. are effectively locked. in position as regards. lateral sliding movement along the rod 20. Thisc-omes about because an attempt toslide theprongs24 along the rod 201by grasping the lower. end. of the prong as at portions-42 or 46fthereof tends to pivot the pronglaterally at the aperture 40 andin so doing one or the other of'the upturned. ends 52 firmly engages the cover 22. Alsojth-e edgesof the aperture 40 tendto bind on the .rod 40. because the section 30 is of more limited dimension lengthwise of the rod 20 thanis the-spacing-of end'52. Accordingly, since theprong 24 issupported'generally at portion 46, as will beexplained further below, any tendency of the.'supportingassem'bly comprising rod 20 andcover 2-2- toamoveto :the right or left, as viewed in- Fig;.-.1, ;;ais: overcome. However, in: installing; the. screen theasprongs 24 may be readily moved along the rod by grasping the prong substantially at the aperture 40. By so doing, the prong may be maintained in perpendicular relationship to the rod 20 and the above-mentioned binding effect will not occur. Since the prongs 24 may be readily moved along rod 20, any width of fireplace opening may be accommodated.

Each of the prongs 24 will generally be located on rod 20 between two of; the meshsupport rings 36. 'For an extreme variation infi'replace width, the rod 20 may be readily removed temporarily to "permit rearrangement of the prongs relative to rings 36.

Referring now to Fig. 5, in addition to Figs. 1-4,

the construction of the mounting brackets 26 and the turnbucklefor retaining these brackets in place may be understood in detail. In the illustrated embodiment each of the brackets 26 is of a rectangular box+like construction open at one side. That is, the brackets are characterized by a cover panel 54 having vertical side walls-56a and 56b and an upper end wall'58 an'd a lower end wall 60.

Securely fixed in the upper portion of cover 54 is athreaded rod 62,.this rod extending in perpendicular relation to the cover 54. The rod 62 may be securelyfastened to the cover 54 -by means-of inner and outer threaded nuts 64, :or the rod'62 may be-welded or otherwise mountedincoverfi i.

At least a portion of the edges of the walls 56a, 56b, '58 and 60 are preferably of serrated form-,- as designated at 66, toforma more'positiveengagement with the inner surfaces of the fireplaceside walls. Furthermorait is preferable to have the serrations only at the upperand. lower; ends. of the bracket 25, as shown in Fig; 5, with the .remaining edges of the vertical wallsbeing somewhat retracted so that. they. will not engage the fireplace wall. l-he reason for thisis that-if a protruding irregularity should 'occur near, the center of the bracket, there would. be less resistance to rotation of the bracket at th-ispoint. On the other hand, where the most positive engagement occurs at the top and bottom of the bracket, all turning moments exerted on theibracket will be overcome. The'serrations also-preferably ex-- tend down the side edges 56a and 56b to a. point slightly beyond the point of connection-of rods '62.

It will be understood that'the brackets 26 need not be of the particular-shape which is shown.

For example, they may besolid blocks orthei 'just suificient'to receive-the rodsrfi2. The tube 68 may form a strictturnbuckle. by beingsinternally threaded to receive .the. rods 62. In this case, the threads at either: end. of .the tu-b'e 68 would be of complementaryctypethat isgone would be a'ri'ght handathread; and the 1 other a left hand thread. .Then with rods t2 -correspondingly threaded. the tube. 68 could. be rotated to move the rods 62 .outward1y. and thus firmly engage. the serrated. edges of brackets *2 6 witlr the masonry Walls of the fireplacesHowever, to-use more conventional threading, the tube 6B maybe unthreaded and nuts lllm'ay be placed'on tube 68 and these nuts turned to buckle effect. It has been found thatt-he usual fireplace screen .which I may-* weigh about twelve pounds 'maybe firmlysecurediin'afireplaceby'use of the brackets: 26 when lathe nutsr 70 care:saturnediaup create the same turn-- merely by hand. When the, .nuts are further tightened by use of a wrench, the brackets will be so firmly secured that a weight may be supported which is tremendously inexcess .of the weight of the screen.

With reference to Fig. 4, it will be observed that there will be a turning moment exerted on the brackets 26. This comes about because the weight of the screen is considerably to one side of the center lines of the brackets. To positively prevent the lower end of the bracket 26 from turning inwardly into the fireplace, there is provided a hook arm 12 which is threaded as at 14 and is received in a threaded aperture 16 in one of the bracket sides 5601. or 56b, depending on which side of the fireplace the bracket is to be mounted. For convenience in manufacturing the brackets, each side of the bracket maybe pro.- vided with a threadedv aperture .16 .so that the hook 12 may be inserted as required. This will avoid the special manufacture of bothleft and right hand brackets. As best shown in Fig- 3, the book 12 will be turned to overlie the front surface of the fireplace. Itxwill thus be clear that the brackets 26 cannot turn inwardly.

Furthermore, since the rods 62 are-connected with the brackets 26 near the upper ends of the latter, the upper ends will be most firmly engaged with the fireplace walls, and, therefore, the upper "ends will not be able to move outwardly under the rotational forces exerted by the weight of the screen.

To provide adjustment in height, the sidewalls 56a, and 56b of brackets 26 are provided with a series of apertures 18a, and 18b, respectively. These apertures are of a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the downwardly sloping portion 46 of hanger prongs 24. Accordingly, the hanger prongs 24 may be supported in the brackets 26 by inserting the bracket portion 46 through one of the apertures 16?) and the next or other lower one of the apertures-18a. This arrangement is best shown in Fig. 4. The number and relative arrangement of the apertures 18a and 18b may be as desired. Where it is satisfactory to construct both right and left hand brackets, the apertures 18a and 1812 need not be aligned. However, if the apertures are aligned as by drilling straight first through side 56a and then side 5612, if the apertures are of sufficient diameter the brackets may be used so that the portion 46 of hanger prong 24 is inserted from either side.

Inasmuch as the prong 46 slopes downwardly, the weight of the screen will tend to slide the prong portion 46 downwardly, and accordingly the bent portion 44 will be firmly seated against the side 56b of the bracket as shown in Fig. 4. Since there are a plurality of apertures, it is obvious that the height of the screen may be readily adjusted. A more fine adjustment may be provided by increasing the number of aperitures. As the number of apertures is increased, the slope of prong portion 46 may be maintained as desired by simply having the used aperture difierential more than one. That is the inner aperture which is used may be several apertures below the outer aperture through which prong portion 46 is inserted.

Referring to Fig. 6, to provide overlapping of the mesh panels l6 and IB at the center of the fireplace, the rod 26 may be formed in an elongated loop having end portions 20a and 20b and a top portion 200. The top portion 200 may then be supported on the cover 22 by means of any suitable support, such as'that designated 20d. Accordingly, with the. top I portion, 200 twisted. a slight amount about its axis, the overlapping portions of rod 20'leading to the loop ends 20a and 26b may be separated 'suificien-tly so that the screen support rings 36 of 'one mesh panel may'pass beside the corresponding-rings 36 of the other mesh panel.

It will be clear from'the foregoing that the screen may be attached to fireplaces .of various widths since the cover 22 and rod 20 may. overlap the actual edges of the fireplace as required. This is permissible because'in all fireplaces there is a considerable amount. of masonry between the edge of the fireplace and the inner edge of the mantel. Since the outer edges of the mesh panels l6 and ['8 will normally be retained-at approximately the ends of the cover 22, :the actual edge of the fireplace will not be predominantly visible and the complete effect of the screen is nothing other than an apparent enlargement of the actual fireplace opening. I.

As to the adjustment in height, it has been mentioned above that the-fine adjustment may be achieved by simply providing a large number of apertures in the brackets 26. Again, since there is invariably a considerable area of masonry between the top of the fireplace and the lower edge of the mantel top; a standard length of wire mesh may be provided for use with fireplaces ranging in the usual sizes as mentioned above.

Many other embodiments of the present-invention will undoubtedly occur to'others upon reading the foregoing detailed description; However, it is intended that theforegoing detailed description of one embodiment of the invention-serve merely for purposes of illustration, and the scope of the invention is to be determined from the appended claims.

I claim: v 1. In a device for supporting a fireplacescreen, a pair of brackets, expansible-rneans for forcing the brackets against the inner surfaces-o f'opposing fireplace walls, support means for supporting the screen, a pair of hanger members connected to the support means and each having a prong member, and means comprising a series or" apertures in the brackets for receiving the prong members, the apertures being arranged so that the prong members are received in a downwardly sloping position relative toa fireplace in which the screen is installed so that the gravitational forces exerted by the support means firmly seat the prongs against undesired removal, the series of apertures being arranged in a vertical row to permit adjustment in the height of the support means.

2. In a device for supporting a fireplace screen, a transverse rod, a hanger member, means for mounting the hanger member on the rod for sliding movement along the rod, a transverse member having ends which are interconnected with the ends of the transverse rod for retaining the rod and transverse member in parallel spaced apart relation toone another, the hanger member having a first portion extending toward the transverse member and terminating closely adjacent thereto, the first portion having a dimension along the axis of the rod substantially greater than the niention the red-in responseto:*fbrcercomponents applied to thesecond i ortion ofi thehanget mem bears in a direction para1lel-to"theaaiiisfi'of therodi In a device: forsupporting a'fireplace screen, atransverse rod;?a" hanger member, em'eansiifor mounting-the hanger member on therod tori-sliding movement along therod,-'the'mounting'means comprising :"an aperture in the hanger member: of diameter. only 'slightlylarger than the diameter of the." rod; a transverse 'memberhaving' ends which are interconnected with the ends of the transverse'rod forretaining the rod and member in=parallelwspaced apartrelation to oneanother, theehanger member having a first portion extending toward the-transverse -m'emberandterm-in'ating" closely'a'djacent thereto, the first portion having-a dimension along 'theaxis of=-the rod substantially greater-"than-thef dimension of; the hanger" member ina corresponding direction at the location of the saidmounting means; com-1 prisingan-aperture,-thehanger member having a second portion for supporting the assembly comprising the hanger'member andtransverse rod, the arrangement being such that the hanger member will be locked'from sliding movement on the rod in response toforce components applied to the second portion ofthe hanger member in a direction parallel to the axis of the rod.

4. In a device for supporting a fireplace screen, meansfor providing adjustment to fit-standard size screens to fireplaces of various heights and Widths, said means comprising a pair of brackets, expansible means for clamping the brackets to opposing inner surfaces of the side walls of a fireplace'opening, a screening supportassembly comprising a transverse rod, a,-- pair of hanger members mounted on the rod for sliding movement along the rod, a plurality of; aperture means in each bracket, the hanger members each having a prong portion for insertion into the bracket aperture means, the plurality of aperture means being arranged to be in a vertical row relative to a fireplace in which the screen is installed to permit adjustment in height of the screening 8; support, =-the armamemovement of: the hanger? rammes tithei rodpermittmg the apparatus to be' litted fireplace openings: o'frvari'ous" widths. :5. In ai device for supportingra fireplace screen, means for providing adjustmentito fit standard size screens to fireplaces ofvariousheights and widths; saidmeans-comprising a: air of brackets, exfpansiblee meanstfifor' clamping the brackets to opposing :tinner'rsurfa'ces of 'the side walls of a fireplace"opening;-:arscreening support assembly comprisingia transverse :rod, 'a' pair of hanger membersT-niounted i'on the rod for' sliding movem'ent alongitherodaaeplurality of saperture'means iirteach bracketrtheehanger members-each having a; prongep'ortion for insertion into the bracket aperture means,- the plurality oftaperture means beingrarrangedtobe1in arvertical row relative to arfineplacezin which'ithe screends installed to permit adjustment in :heightiof: :the' screening isupp'dl'rtfi-th slidable'. movement For the hanger mem-. bers on Ithe. rod" permitting. "the! apparatus to be flttedtozfireplaees sot-various widths,- thetaperture meanslbeing za-rrangedYto'permit theshang er prongs tor'eX-tend downwardly and-.inwardlyrto firmly-seat the" screening qsupportsassemblyagainst the front of=::the'-'fireplace. I

FRED vJ1 MEYER. marinated in "the rne- -of-'-'this=patent v :UNITEDSTATESF'PZATENTS Number 

